This week’s Symphonies of Iowa features The Des Moines Symphony and their Season Finale, “Bernstein’s West Side Story.”
The Des Moines Symphony wrapped up their 81st season celebrating Leonard Bernstein by performing his Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. For Maestro Giunta, this is a “personal tribute” to Bernstein, as it was one of the pieces he studied with Bernstein when the two worked together.
The program opens with Rossini’s Overture to Italian in Algiers.
The program continues with “Multi Grammy Award nominee Violinist” Philippe Quint, who joins the Des Moines Symphony to play Korngold’s “lush” Violin Concerto. Recently, he has performed with the London, Royal Liverpool and Los Angeles Philharmonics, the Chicago, Seattle, Bournemouth Symphonies and the China National Symphony, along with the Minnesota Orchestra, to name a few.
Respighi’s amazing Pines of Rome concludes the program.
The Des Moines Symphony’s “Season Finale: Bernstein’s West Side Story” airs this weekend on Iowa Public Radio Classical on Sunday, June 9th at 4 p.m. and Monday, June 10th at 7 p.m.
PROGRAM
ROSSINI Overture to Italian in Algiers
KORNGOLD Violin Concerto in D
BERNSTEIN Symphonic Dances from West Side Story
RESPIGHI Pines of Rome
SPECIAL APPEARANCES
Joseph Giunta, conducting
Philippe Quint, violin
Audio will be posted Friday morning, June 7th.